Between Fabric and Footwork: Flamenco at Julia de Burgos Cultural Art Center
At Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center (JDBCAC), flamenco isn’t just a performance—it’s a language. A language of rhythm, resilience, and expression that speaks across generations and art forms.
Alice Blumenfeld, founder of ABREPASO flamenco and an Unidos por el Arte artist at JDBCAC, has built a career expanding what flamenco can mean in contemporary contexts. Rather than approaching flamenco purely as performance, she sees it as a tool for community care—an expressive art form that nurtures connection through rhythm, poetry, movement, and music. Derived from the Spanish phrase se abre paso—to forge a path—ABREPASO reflects her vision to create space for both tradition and innovation in the communities she serves.
Since 2021, Alice has shared flamenco artistry with the local community at JDBCAC, building a consistent and welcoming space for learning and expression for adults and children alike. Kids often arrive early just to play the cajón—a box drum introduced into flamenco in the late twentieth century—and rush up to Alice to show flamenco steps they’ve created on their own, just for fun. “Every performance shows the impact,” Alice notes. “You see it in proud parents, in kids dancing with confidence, in families finding joy in something they created together.”
Not everyone wants to dance—but flamenco offers many ways to participate. This past spring, ABREPASO led a Flamenco Arts & Crafts Series at JDBCAC, welcoming participants of all ages into multigenerational workshops that celebrate the artistry behind the stage. Families created traditional peineta hairpieces and Chiclana dolls, exploring the craftsmanship that defines flamenco’s vibrant aesthetic. “The costume tells the story of flamenco,” Alice says. “One of the most meaningful things I do is pick fabric with my mom. That creative bond is part of the art.” These hands-on experiences invite participants to express personal style and flair while connecting with flamenco culture—building toward a community feria, a local celebration inspired by Spain’s flamenco festivals.
For Alice, JDBCAC isn’t just a venue—it’s a creative home. “There’s always space to produce here,” she says. “JDBCAC is of the community. Leti and her team listen. They open doors. It’s real.”
That support will shape Ni más / ni menos, an upcoming contemporary flamenco piece by ABREPASO flamenco inspired by Picasso’s Guernica, premiering November 20 and 21.
In the meantime, we invite you to celebrate with us at this year’s 11th annual Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month event, Celebrando, on September 13 at JDBCAC.
JULIA DE BURGOS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
2800 Archwood Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
juliadeburgos.org
(216) 894-5664
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